KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Residents in the Kodiak Island Borough will be seeing some changes to zoning laws in the near future, as the borough continues its long, hard look at the code.
Borough associate planner Duane Dvorak and private consultant Val Lazdins of L-S-L Planning in Grand Rapids, Michigan, were on KMXT’s Talk of the Rock last week with Maggie Wall. Dvorak says Titles 16, 17 and 18 of the borough code, dealing with subdivisions, zoning and land management, respectively, are under scrutiny for a good reason: many of them date to the 1960s and 70s.
The first zoning workship is tonight (Thursday) at 6 p.m. at Kodiak High School, with the second Friday at 6:30 at the Chiniak School.
— (Zoning 1 45 sec "It’s been updated … zoning, and how we do that.")
Lazdins says the zoning code is the backbone for good public planning:
— (Zoning 2 31 sec "The zoning ordinance and … we’ve had with the public.")
In addition to seeking comments one-on-one from individuals, Lazdins has also talked with various interest groups:
— (Zoning 3 36 sec "We’ve also done a series … like to see implemented.")
Dvorak says clarification is especially needed in the codes for lodging and resource extraction. He says rezoning may have to be considered in some areas to better separate industrial activities from homes. Regulating and defining bed-and-breakfasts and lodges has long been an issue before the borough:
— (Zoning 4 32 sec "It’s not only something … that really aren’t clear.")
To help make the codes clearer, Dvorak is inviting the public to a pair of workshops.
